After claiming silver at London, Simone Kennedy is looking to go one step better at Rio

When Simone Kennedy saw the incredible efforts of the athletes at the Beijing Paralympics, the only thought that crossed her mind was “if they can do that, so can I.”

Simone Kennedy will be chasing gold at the Rio Paralympics.

When Simone Kennedy saw the incredible efforts of the athletes at the Beijing Paralympics, the only thought that crossed her mind was “if they can do that, so can I.”

Fast forward eight years and the cyclist from Ryde is preparing to compete at Rio in her second Paralympics after already claiming a silver medal in London in 2012.

“I remember watching the Beijing Paralympics and I saw girls with one leg competing in the velodrome. A year later I started cycling,” said the 22 year-old who lives with cerebral palsy affecting the left side of her body.

Simone Kennedy with her bronze medal from the 2016 Track Worlds in Montichiari, Italy.

Not that it has stopped her from dominating the sport.

Simone burst onto the world scene in 2012 as she won two gold medals in her first international competition at the Track World Championships in Los Angeles.

ROWING TO RIO

FROM KINGS TO CLIPPERS

At 18, she was rushed into the Australian side for the London Games and put together an incredible performance to take home silver in the 3km individual pursuit in her Paralympic debut.

“I wasn’t even really supposed to make the team. I was very young and wasn’t used to the crowds of a packed velodrome and what it sounds like. I definitely got a lot of experience from it.”

Simone will be competing in four cycling events throughout the games.

Simone will be one of the busiest athletes in Rio after qualifying in four events: the 3km individual pursuit and 500m time trial on the track as well as the 20km individual time trial and 48km road races.

“My aim is just to do my best,” she said. “My main focus is the 3km pursuit, I’d love to medal in that.

“It will be really tough but at the same time really exciting.”

Originally published as After claiming silver at London, Simone Kennedy is looking to go one step better at Rio